Hi!
Provided you have some in-house programming expertise, I'd recommend going
for open source software, which is probably as future-proof as anything.
Some of the commercial database applications are excellent, but the cheap
and easy ones in particular do have a habit of being retired by their
manufacturers, often in favour of an expensive alternative.
There are two obvious options :
1. OpenOffice, which now has built-in database functionality.
2. MySql. For this you'd need to run a local Apache web server, writing your
application in html and php. It involves a steepish learning curve, but it
has great advantages if you want to network your database. You may well find
something close to the code you need already written and freely available on
a php source site.
Best wishes,
Paul Baker
Renaissance Musician, Instrument Maker,
Computer Maestro and lots of other things.
Diabolus in Musica and Midlands Early Music Forum
[log in to unmask]
www.diabolus.org
----- Original Message -----
From: "Farrow, Esther" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, February 02, 2007 12:35 PM
Subject: Re: Computer booking system and database
Other museums I have worked in have used Vista (I'm pretty sure that's the
name), not the new Microsoft but another software company (adobe?).
This email isn't particularly helpful so far I know, mainly because we have
a similar problem here, we end up just putting things on Outlook Calendar. I
am hoping to get a bookings system installed here too. I would be very
interested to hear what other people suggest.
Esther
-----Original Message-----
From: List for discussion of issues in museum education in the UK.
[mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Markland, Eleanor
Sent: 02 February 2007 11:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Computer booking system and database
Since 1996 we have been using a booking system and database designed in
house using Filemaker Pro. It has served us well linking bookings with
information about schools, their visits and all the figures. However it is
now getting a bit elderly and we no longer have the skills in house to
design a new one.
So I am look to buy a new package to replace it and wondered what other
people were using and whether they could recommend (or warn us off) what
they use.
Thank you
Eleanor Markland
Formal Learning Co-ordinator
Luton Museums Education Service
IMPORTANT: Luton Borough Council routinely monitors the content of e-mail
sent
and received by its e-mail systems, to ensure compliance with its policies
and procedures.
E-mails that contain encrypted material, program files, are obscene,
inflammatory,
criminal, offensive, in breach of copyright or contain a virus or threat to
Council`s
computer systems may be intercepted and/or deleted.
Internet communications are not secure.
The Council is not responsible for any changes made to the message after it
has
been sent.
This message is intended only for the addressee. Any unauthorised copying or
distribution may be unlawful.
If you are not the intended recipient, please notify the sender at
Luton Borough Council
Town Hall
Luton LU1 2BQ.
Tel. (01582) 546000
or by using the reply option to this e-mail.
Then delete this message from your system.
Website: www.luton.gov.uk
The information in this message including any attachments may be
confidential or privileged and is for the use of the named recipient only.
If you are not the named or intended recipient you may not copy, distribute,
or deliver this message to anyone or take any action in reliance on it. If
you receive this message in error please contact the sender immediately and
delete it from your system
|